Sprayer pump



March 8, 1966 v. SANTARELLI 3,239,109

SPRAYER PUMP Filed OCT. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 52,'-5 /ZO ze 35 4INVENTOR- VINCENT SANTARELLI ATTORNEYS March 8, 1966 v. sANTARr-:LLI

SPRAYER PUMP Filed OCT.. 26, 1964 flfrlilll.

United States Patent O 3,239,109 SPRAYER PUMP Vincent Santarelli, 27551Gail, Warren, Mich. Filed Oct. Z6, 1964, Ser. No. 406,246 Claims. (Cl.222-321) My invention relates generally to hydrostatic pressure sources,and more particularly to a portable fluid pressure pump capable ofpressurizing a liquid supply for portable garden sprayers or the like. p

The improvements of my invention can be adapted readily for use insprayer structures of the type shown in my U.S. Patent No. 2,594,223. Inthe sprayer disclosed in my patent, there is provided a liquidcontaining tank for storing liquid insecticide, plant fertilizers, orother liquid appropriate for a particular spraying operation. The tankis adapted to be carried by means of straps or belts on the back of theoperator. A reciprocating plunger, which is situated within the tank,includes a piston portion that is adapted to be received within a welllocated on the lower region of the tank. The piston portion has a fluidseal packing that establishes sealing contact with the walls of the wellas the plunger is moved by the operator by means of a hand crank andlinkage mechanism.

Provision is made in my earlier construction for obtaining a continuoussupply of liquid from the tank to the well prior to the working strokeof the plunger by tapering the sides of the well. The clearance thatthus is established between the packing of the piston portion and theinner surface of the well permits liquid to enter the well as theplunger is prepared for its pumping stroke. During the pumping stroke,the packing again establishes sealing contact with the inner wall of thewell as the liquid within the well is forced through a check valvestructure and through a communicating central passage in the plunger tospray nozzle.

An arrangement of the type shown in my earlier disclosure requires, ofnecessity, a variable side pressure upon the packing material that isused. This causes ilexure of the material as the plunger is reciprocatedin the direction of the axis of the well. This tends to acceleratefailure of the packing material through wear.

vGradual deterioration of the packing material results in progressivelydecreasing efficiency.

It is necessary also in my earlier construction to pro- 'vide .a checkvalve that is physically connected to the delivery passage for the spraynozzle. This then makes it necessary to extend a delivery tube Withinthe working chamber of the well so that it may form a portion of theassociated one-way check valve. This then limits somewhat the volumetriccapacity of the pumping mechanism for any given well size.

The provision of a portable pumping mechanism that will overcome theshortcomings that are apparent in prior art constructions is an objectof my instant invention. It is a further object of my invention toprovide an improvement in pumping mechanisms of the type discussed inthe foregoing paragraphs that includes a iluid pressure piston with aninflexible packing material that is resistant to swelling regardless ofwhether the liquid in the tank is an oil-base solution and regardless ofwhether the liquid contains solvents that would tend to cause thepacking material to deform.

It is .a further object of my invention to provide a portable pumpmechanism of the type above set forth wherein a simplified valvemechanism is employed for establishing communication between the pumpingcharnber of the mechanism and the passage structure that extends to thespray nozzle.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pump mechanism ofthe type above set forth wherein 3,239,109 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 ICCcommunication between the interior of the liquid containing tank and thepumping chamber of the mechanism is established by an improved, disctype, one-way ow valve, thereby eliminating the necessity for providingcontrolled leakage past the piston portion.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent from thefollowing description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l shows a side elevation view, partly in cross section, of thecomplete unit of which my improved pump mechanism forms a part;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of section line 22 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional View taken along the plane of section line3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG.2. It includes the portion shown in FIG. 2 within the reference circle;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the reciprocatingplunger portion of the structure of FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the structure of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of section line7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional View taken Valong the plane ofsection line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a detail View of the upper portion of the reciprocatingplunger of the structure of FIG. 5; and

FIG. l0 is a detail view of a threaded element of the plunger portion ofFIG. 5.

As best seen in FIGS. l and 3, numeral 1i) designates a liquidcontaining tank that may contain any of a variety of liquids or solventsused during spraying operations. To facilitate handling and carrrying,the tank 10 may be Iformed with an elongated cross section having aconcave side 12 and a convex side 14. Suitable straps or belts may beused for securing Athe tank 10 to the back of the wearer with the side12 being engageable with the wearers shoulder.

Disposed adjacent one end of the elongated tank 10 and situated inparallel relationship with respect to the principal axis of symmetry oftank 10 is a plunger identified generally by reference character 16. Itincludes a first cylindrical portion 18 and a second cylindrical portion20, the diameter of the portion 20 being less than the diameter of theportion 18 although it is formed with an axis that is common to theportion 1S.

The upper end of the tank 10 includes a colver 22 having a margin 24that overlies the upper end of the tank 10. The cover 22 can be securedby welding or brazing to form a fluid tight closure for the tank 10. Ahandle 28 may be secured to the upper surface of the cover 22 tofacilitate portage. It includes a flange 39 that may be riveted orotherwise secured to the cover 22.

Formed in the cover 22 is an opening 30, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4,through which a hollow rod 32 extends. The rod 32 includes a head 34that is formed integrally with a fitting 36 over which a ilexible rubberhose may be positioned. v

A flexible packing material 38 surrounds the opening 30 and establishessealing engagement with the rod 32. The material 38 is contained withina suitable seal retainer 40 which is welded or otherwise secured to theouter surface of the cover 22. Y

For a detailed illustration of the rod 32, reference may be made to FIG.9. As best seen in FIG. 9, the lower portion of the rod 32 is threadedas shown at 42. It also is formed with a coned terminal part 44. Thehead 34 secured to the upper end lof the rod 32 is formed with anopening 46 which receives one end 48 of an operating rod 50. Theprincipal portion of the rod 50 extends in B a direction that isgenerally parallel to the principal axis of symmetry of the tank 10, andthe end 48 extends in a direction perpendicular to the principal portionof rod 50. Formed on the end 48 are spaced projections 52 and 54 whichare adapted to be received within key slots 56 and 58 respectively, asthe end 48 is inserted through the opening 46. After the end 48 issituated in its operating position, the end 48 can be rotated so thatthe projections 52 and 54 establish interference that preventsaccidental removal of the rod 48 from the head 34.

The lower end 56 of the rod 50 also extends in a direction perpendicularto the principal portion thereof. The end 56 extends in a directionopposite to the direction that end 48 extends, and it is receivedthrough an opening formed in the lower end of an operating crankindicated by reference character 58. A cotter key may be provided ifdesired to hold the end 56 fast within the opening in crank 58. Thecotter key is indicated at 60.

Secured to one end of the outer surface of tank is a bracket 62 in theform of a strap. It may be secured to the tank 10 by welding, by rivets,or by other suitable means. One end of the bracket 62 is bent in theform of a U-shaped support 64. A retainer bolt 66 is received throughaligned openings in the support 64. The lower extremity of the crank 58is formed with on opening through which the bolt 66 extends. A cotterkey 68 prevents removal of the bolt 66 following assembly.

The upper end of the crank 58 may carry a handle 70 to facilitatecranking motion of the crank 58 about the axis of bolt 66. As the crankis operated in this fashion by the operator, rod 50 is caused toreciprocate thereby causing reciprocating motion of the rod 32, withinthe opening 30.

The tank 10 may contain also an agitator plate 72 which may be situatedin a plane perpendicular to the direction of reciprocating motion of therod 32. It may be held in place by bracket 74 which includes a circularpart 76 that encricles the cylindrical portion 18 of the plunger 16. Theend of the circular part 76 can be apertured so that a threadedeye-bolt78 can be received therethrough. The eye-bolt 78 may be threaded withinan aligned opening formed in the intermediate portion of the bracket 74.As the eye-bolt 78 is tightened, the circular part 76 is held fast byfriction against the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 18 of theplunger 16. As the plunger 16 is reciprocated in a direction parallel toits principal axis, the agitator plate 72 is effective to agitate theliquid in the tank 10 to provide a homogeneous mixture of the variousliquids or solutes.

The lower end of tank 10 has secured thereto a bottom plate 80, one endof which is formed to define a cylindrical well 82. The plate 80includes a turned flange 84 at its periphery and the flange in turn maybe secured by welding or by other suitable fabricating techniques to thelower inner surface of the tank 10 -thereby providing a liquid tightenclosure within the tank 10.

A reinforcing shell 86 overlies the lower end of the tank 10 to providea lap joint. This joint can be secured fast by welding if desired. Theshell 86 encloses also a second supporting baille plate 88 having aturned marginal flange 90 that may be secured to its inner surface. Theplate 88 can be depressed, as shown at 92,`to form a support for thelower region of the well 82.

The reduced diameter cylindrical portion carries at its lower end aclosure plate 94. This plate includes an upturned, internally splinedflange 96 and it is welded at its margin to the lower margin of thecylindrical `portion 20. An externally threaded retainer element 98,which is shown in detail in FIG. 10, is threaded within the threadedflange 96. Element 98 includes a head 100 which defines an annularshoulder v102. When the element 98 is threadably assembled, as shown inFIG. 5, an annular space exists between the lower surface of the plate94 and shoulder 102.

The upper end of the cylindrical portion 18 of the plunger 16 is coveredby a closure plate 106 having a flanged margin 108 that overlies theouter surface of the portion 18 to facilitate a brazed or weldedconnection to it. The central region of the plate 106 `is formed with aninternally splined llange 110 which threadably receives an adaptor 112.This adaptor is formed with a central circular opening 114 whichreceives, by means of a force t, the upper end of a distributor tube116.

The adaptor 112 is internally threaded, as shown at 117, to receive thethreaded end 42 of the rod 32. The coned portion 44 of the rod 32engages in sealing relationship an internally coned surface 118 of theadaptor 112.

Rod 32 is provided with a fluid distributor passage 120 thatcommunicates with adaptor 36 and the hose to which it may be connected.Passage 120 communicates also with the interior opening of the tube 116.

The lower end of the tube 116 is apertured at 122, although thelocations of these openings 122 are not critical.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the member 98 is formed with acylindrical interior 124 which receives a ball check valve element 126.The head 160 of the member 98 is centrally apertured, as shown at 126,and the ball valve element 126 is adapted to seat against the margin ofthe opening 128 to form a one way fluid flow passage between theinterior 124 and the interior of the well 82.

The valve element 126 registers with the opening 128 when the plunger 16is moved in an upward direction. This sealing position is indicated inFIG. 6. On the other hand, if the plunger 16 is moved in a downwarddirection, valve element 126 moves out of registry with the opening 128as indicated in FIG. 5. The lower end of the tube 116 acts as a stop forthe element 126. Since the tube 116 preferably is aligned with themember 98, the valve element 126 will tend to register with the open endof the tube 116. Communication between the interior and the well 82 andthe central opening of the tube 116 is maintained, however, by reason ofthe openings 122. Fluid may pass from the interior of the well 82 andthrough the opening 128 around the valve element 126 and finally intothe openings 122 as the plunger 16 is moved in a downward direction.

During the pumping Astroke the fluid displaced from the well 82 takesplace at a rate that exceeds the rate of delivery of the liquid from thenozzle. Thus a p0rtion of the liquid will be allowed to enter the sealedinterior space of the cylindrical portions 18 and 20 of the plunger 16.Initially this sealed space within the plunger 16 contains air. Thus asthe pumping yoperation continues, the air becomes compressed due to theincrease in volume of the liquid. The cylindrical portions 18 and 20 ofthe plunger 16 thus function as an accumulator to supply a continuousresidual pressure that is effective to maintain a continuous llow ofliquid under pressure to the spray nozzle. Thus a continuous spray maybe achieved without interruption as the operator oscillates the crank58.

A fluid packing 130 is secured to an annular plate 132, the latter beinginternally apertured at 134 to receive the stem of the element 98. Thepacking material 130 overlies the upper and radially outward Isurfacesof the plate 132, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The lower apron`portion defined by the packing 130 is in continuous seal- `ingengagement with the cylindrical inner surface of the well 82.

The upper transversely extending portion of the packing material 130 isapertured as shown at 136. These apertures are aligned withcorresponding openings formed vin the member 132.

When the packing material 130 is assembled as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, anaxial clearance exists between the shoulder 102 and the lower surface ofthe plate 94. As the plunger 16 is moved in an upward direction, member132 engages shoulder 102 thereby allowing tluid from the interior of thetank to pass around the lower end of the cylindrical portion and toenter the apertures 136 thereby maintaining a iiow of liquid to theinterior of the well 82. As the plunger 16 then is moved with a downwardpumping stroke, the packing material 130 establishes a seal thatprevents escape of the fluid from the well 82 to the tank 10. The samepacking material serves also as a disc valve for closing the apertures136 thereby preventing reverse flow of fluid through these apertures.Upon continued movement of the plunger 16 in a downward direction, theball 126 becomes unseated thereby allowing pressurized uid to enter thetube 116 and the interior of the plunger 16 as explained previously.

It is not necessary in this improved construction for the sealingmaterial 130 to come out of contact with the inner surface of the well82. There is no opportunity, therefore, for the packing material tobecome swelled or otherwise change in dimension. A fluid tight seal ofthe apertures 136 is assured at al1 times. Although I contemplate thatvarious packing materials may -be used successfully in this environment,I have found that certain washer materials now in commercial use arehighly satisfactory since they resist the corrosive action of any liquidthat may be contained in the tank 10. They also resist swelling when oilbase solutions are used.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated,it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodiiication, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what Iclaim and desire to secure by U.S. Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid pumping mechanism having a cylindrical Well, a fluidreservoir, a plunger having an accumulator chamber with a fluid pressuredistributor tube extending therethrough, an end plate on said chamber, arst valve element having formed therein a valve aperture extendingthrough said end plate, a check valve element contained within saidfirst valve element and adapted to register with the aperture formedtherein, a sealing member carried by said plunger comprising a packingmaterial having a cylindrical skirt portion in sliding and sealingengagement with the inner wall of said well and a portion that extendsin a plane transverse to the axis of said well, and apertures formed insaid transverse portion, said fluid reservoir being in fluidcommunication with said well, said packing material being adapted tomove into and out of sealing engagement with said end plate as saidplunger is reciprocated in the direction of the principal axis of saidwell.

2. A fluid pumping mechanism comprising a plunger that defines anaccumulator chamber, a cylindrical well, a fluid reservoir, a firstone-way ow valve means for establishing controlled communication betweenthe interior of said well and said reservoir, fluid packing between saidplunger and the interior wall of said well forming a sliding sealtherebetween, said fluid packing and said first valve means comprisingcommon parts, second one-way flow valve means for providing `one-wayfluid distribution from the interior of said well to the interior ofsaid plunger, passage means for distributing fluid under pressure fromsaid accumulator chamber, said irst flow valve means comprising a discshaped portion formed of sealing material that comprises said packing,apertures formed in said disc shaped portion to provide controlledcommunication between the interior of said well and said reservoir assaid plunger is moved in an outward direction with respect to said well,a skirt portion of said sealing material being in continuous sealingengagement with the inner wall of said well, said second valve meansbeing carried by said plunger and adapted to establish one-way fluiddistribution from the interior of said well to the interior of saidplunger as said plunger is moved inwardly with respect to said well, anda reaction element forming a part of said second valve means andproviding a reaction shoulder that is situated in the line of motion ofsaid disc shaped portion to limit relative motion of the latter withrespect to said plunger as said plunger is moved in an outward directionwith respect to said well.

3. A uid pumping mechanism comprising a plunger that defines anaccumulator chamber, a cylindrical well, a fluid reservoir, a firstone-way ow valve means for establishing controlled communication betweenthe interior of said well and said reservoir, uid packing between saidplunger and the interior wall of said well forming a sliding sealtherebetween, said fluid packing and said rst valve means comprisingcommon parts, second oneway ow valve means for providing one-way fluiddistribution from the interior of said well to the interior of saidplunger, passage means for distributing fluid under pressure from saidaccumulator chamber, said first ow valve means comprising a disc shapedportion formed of sealing material that comprises said packing,apertures formed in said disc shaped portion to provide controlledcommunication between the interior of said well and said reservoir assaid plunger is moved in an outward direction with respect to said well,a skirt portion of said sealing material being in continuous sealingengagement with the inner wall of said well, said second valve meansbeing carried by said plunger and adapted to establish one-way fluiddistribution from the interior of said well to the interior of saidplunger as said plunger is moved inwardly with respect to said well, areaction element forming a part of said second valve means and providinga reaction shoulder that is situated in the line of motion of said discshaped portion to limit relative motion of the latter with respect tosaid plunger as said plunger is moved in an outward direction withrespect to said well, said plunger including an end plate, said reactionelement being carried by said end plate, and said sealing material beingengageable with said end plate to establish sealing contact therewithunder the influence of iiuid pressure in said Well.

4. A Huid pumping mechanism comprising a plunger that defines anaccumulator chamber, a cylindrical well, a uid reservoir, a firstone-way ow valve means for establishing controlled communication betweenthe interior of said well and said reservoir, fluid packing between saidplunger and the interior wall of said well forming a sliding sealtherebetween, said liuid packing and said first valve means comprisingcommon parts, including a valve aperture and a movable valve elementadapted to register therewith, passage means for distributing uid underpressure from said accumulator chamber, said rst flow valve meanscomprising a disc shaped portion formed of sealing material thatcomprises said packing, apertures formed in said disc shaped portion toprovide controlled communication between the interior of said well andsaid reservoir as said plunger is moved in an outward direction withrespect to said well, a skirt portion of said sealing material being incontinuous sealing engagement with the inner wall of said well, secondvalve means for establishing one-way fluid distribution from theinterior of said well to the interior of said plunger as said plunger ismoved inwardly with respect to said well, said second valve meanscomprising a valve seat and a movable valve element adapted to registertherewith, a reaction element forming a part of said second valve meansand providing a reaction shoulder that is situated in the line of motionof said disc shaped portion to limit relative motion of `the latter withrespect to said plunger as said plunger is moved in an outward directionwith respect to said well, said plunger including an end plate, saidreaction element being carried by said end plate, said sealing materialbeing engageable with said end plate to establish sealing contacttherewith under lthe influence of uid pressure in said well, and passagemeans for establishing distribution of pressurized fluid from saidaccumulator, said passage means comprising a tube extended through saidaccumulator, the lower portion of said tube being situated directlyadjacent said movable valve element of said second valve means forlimiting the motion thereof.

5. A uid pumping mechanism comprising a plunger that defines anaccumulator chamber, a cylindrical well, a fluid reservoir, a firstone-way flow valve means for establishing controlled communicationbetween the interior of said well and said reservoir, uid packingbetween said plunger and the interior wall of said well forming asliding seal therebetween, sadi uid packing and said first valvecomprising common parts, passage means for distributing iiuid underpressure from said accumulator chamber, said first flow valve meanscomprising a disc shaped portion formed of sealing material thatcomprises said packing, apertures formed in said disc shaped portion toprovide controlled communication between the interior of said Well andsaid reservoir as said plunger is moved in an outward direction withrespect to said well, a skirt portion of said sealing material being incontinuous sealing engagement with the inner wall of said Well, secondvalve means for establishing one-way fluid distribution from theinterior of said well to the interior of said plunger as said plunger ismoved inwardly with respect to said well, a reaction element forming apart of said second valve means and providing a reaction shoulder thatis situated in the line of motion of said disc shaped portion to limitrelative motion of the latter with respect to said plunger as saidplunger is moved in an outward direction with respect to said well, saidreaction element having a valve aperture therein, a movable valveelement in registry with said valve aperture and forming a part of saidsecond valve means, said plunger including an end plate, said reactionelement being carried by said end plate, said sealing material beingengageable with said end plate to establish sealing contact therewithunder the influence of fluid pressure in said well, passage means forestablishing distribution of pressurized uid from said accumulator, saidpassage means comprising a tube extended through said accumulator, theextended end of said tube being situated directly adjacent said movablevalve element of said second valve means for limiting the motionthereof, the upper end of said plunger comprising a cover plate, athreaded aperture formed in said cover plate, a uid conducting fittingthreadably received within said threaded aperture and having a throughopening formed therein, the upper end of said tube being received withinsaid through opening, and a plunger head having an apertured stemthreadably received within said fitting, said apertured stem having aconed surface and said fitting having a cooperating coned surface toestablish sealing engagement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 855,310 5/1907Hentgen 222-377 X 2,594,223 4/1952 Santarelli a 222-377 X LOUIS J.DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

1. A FLUID PUMPING MECHANISM HAVING A CYLINDRICAL WELL, A FLUIDRESERVOIR, A PLUNGER HAVING AN ACCUMULATOR CHAMBER WITH A FLUID PRESSUREDISTRIBUTOR TUBE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, AN END PLATE ON SAID CHAMBER, AFIRST VALVE ELEMENT HAVING FORMED THEREIN A VALVE APERTURE EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID END PLATE, A CHECK VALVE ELEMENT CONTAINED WITHIN SAIDFIRST VALVE ELEMENT AND ADAPTED TO REGISTER WITH THE APERTURE FORMEDTHEREIN, A SEALING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID PLUNGER COMPRISING A PACKINGMATERIAL HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SKIRT PORTION IN SLIDING AND SEALINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER WALL OF SAID WELL AND A PORTION THAT EXTENDSIN A PLANE TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF SAID WELL, AND APERTURES FORMED INSAID TRANSVERSE PORTION, SAID FLUID RESERVOIR BEING IN FLUIDCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID WELL, SAID PACKING MATERIAL BEING ADAPTED TOMOVE INTO AND